A study commissioned by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India has confirmed that the underpasses along the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway are being utilized by wild animals as intended. The study, which took place from May 16 to June 24, 2025, along the Ganeshpur–Dehradun stretch, recorded 40,444 wildlife detections from over 111,000 images captured via 150 camera traps. Species such as nilgai, elephants, and jackals were among the early users, while leopards and rusty-spotted cats appeared later, indicating varying behavioral adaptations. The underpasses are part of a larger project that includes India’s longest wildlife corridor, designed to minimize roadkill and facilitate safe animal movement in the Shivalik elephant corridor near Rajaji Tiger Reserve. Despite the success in wildlife usage, human presence often exceeded wildlife detections, suggesting that traffic and human activities could impact animal behavior. The study also highlighted the influence of vehicular noise on wildlife, creating a 'phantom road' effect that extends beyond the physical highway.